By Thulane Madalane
Makuya:The final day of an exciting initiative aimed at promoting South Africa’s diverse tourism offerings has arrived. Limpopo Wildlife Resorts invited South Africans to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Limpopo province with free entrance to 11 of its stunning nature reserves during Mahala Week 2025, which started on 08 September and concluded on 14 September 2025.
As part of the initiative, the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) department hosted media personalities from various outlets at the Makuya Nature Reserve. The excursion included a challenging 12-kilometer hike to Nwanedi Falls, followed by a game drive to Mutala Falls the next day. This itinerary allowed participants to experience a variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, due to the reserves’ proximity to Kruger National Park.
Launched in recognition of September as Tourism Month, Mahala Week aimed to spark interest among South Africans in exploring various tourism destinations within Limpopo. The province, home to 70 percent of the iconic Kruger National Park, offered additional nature reserves featuring a range of activities such as hiking, birding, camping, and fishing.
Among the highlighted reserves were Wolkberg (hiking & camping), Nwanedi (self-drives), Makuya (birding, fishing, hiking, camping & game drives), Lekgalameetsi (hiking, camping & self-drives), Schuinsdraai (camping & fishing), D’Nyala (self-drives), Mokolo Dam (camping & fishing), Nylsvley (birding, hiking & camping), Doorndraai (fishing, hiking & self-drives), and Rust de Winter (camping & fishing).
Sinah Maduana from LEDET Marketing highlighted the initiative’s importance, stating, “The goal of Mahala Week was to encourage South Africans, particularly those in Limpopo, to explore and appreciate the natural wonders in their local area.”
In addition to embracing natural beauty, LEDET engaged local communities through environmental education initiatives aimed at fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship to preserve these valuable reserves.
Tourism plays a crucial role in Limpopo’s economy, contributing approximately R16.7 billion to the province’s Gross Domestic Product, with R11.7 billion from domestic tourism and R5 billion from international visitors. Mahala Week 2025 was vital in supporting local tourism and drawing attention to Limpopo’s ecological treasures.
Zaid Kalla the Spokesperson for LEDET, emphasized the importance of the tourism sector, stating, “The Limpopo Provincial Government considers the tourism sector as a key economic pillar. We have seen the resilience of the sector from the manner at which it quickly bounced back after being totally crippled by the advent of COVID-19.” He further highlighted, “Mahala Week is a government-owned programme that aims to allow South African people the opportunity to take a Shot-Left and explore the beauty of the Province and South Africa as a whole.”
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